Horses are majestic and intelligent creatures known for their strength and beauty. One of the significant features associated with horses is their mane. It is a mass of long, thick hairs that grow from the neck and upper back.
Usually, when discussing equine’s mane, people may ask: why can’t horses feel their mane? What causes a horse to lose its mane? Can horses feel their mane being pulled? What are some common horse mane problems? Let’s find out!
There are two different perspectives on the sensitivity of a horse’s mane. One says they cannot feel their mane, while the other voices they can. Both back their claims through some logic. However, the latter appears to be more powerful because of a 2014 study in its favor. Nonetheless, let’s dig into the topic to learn more.
Can horses feel their mane or not?
People who believe horses can’t feel their mane think so because of the hairs that make up the mane. These hairs are not as densely packed with nerve endings as other areas of the equine’s body.
That means the horse may not be as sensitive to touch in its mane as in other areas. As a result, people conclude that horses can’t feel their mane.
However, a large number of individuals regard this perspective as a misconception. They believe that the four-legged animal discerns its mane.
They hold that equines have nerve endings throughout their skin, including in their mane. Thus, they can feel touch and other sensations on their furthest extremity as in other parts of their body.
For instance, if a person were to brush or comb a horse’s mane, the equine would likely be able to feel it. Similarly, if an individual were to pull on an equine’s mane, it may defensively react to the sensation.
However, there is agreement that horses may act less sensitive to sensations on their mane. Yet, it does not mean they don’t feel their furthest extremity. No matter what, the mane is their body part, and they are aware of it.
Can horses feel their mane being pulled?
Horses’ reaction to pulling off their mane can be a litmus test. It can reveal the truth about whether equines know about their mane. A study by MSc student Louise Nicholls is helpful in this regard.
Nicholls explores how horses react to having their manes touched or pulled in her study. The research involved 20 privately-owned, non-naive equines. The investigator measured their heart rates and behavior during the process.
The results showed that horses experience stress upon the manipulation of their manes. Additionally, Nicholls discovered two important things about equines during the study. They are as follows:
- About horses’ heart rates: The four-legged animals’ mean heart rates were significantly higher upon mane pulling. That was in contrast to when the participant merely touched their manes. Also, the horses had higher mean heart rates when the researcher started mane pulling at the poll working down than at the withers working up.
- About horses’ movement: The equines displayed more activity on mane pulling compared to when the participant only touched it. The activity included conducts such as ears back, standing alert, licking and chewing, a high neck position, head tossing, mouth tight and tail swishing, and clamping.
Thus, these behaviors suggested that the equines experienced discomfort or pain during the mane-pulling process.
Furthermore, Nicholls also monitored the behavior of horses for indicators of stress, such as rearing, pulling back, and a tight mouth. However, sometimes equines may not show any obvious behavioral symptoms of distress.
That’s because they are prey animals and, perhaps, passive copers.
Therefore, these four-legged animals may not always try to flee from a painful or stressful situation. They may instead go into a state of learned helplessness. Hence, they show no behavioral signs of stress but can have a very high heart rate simultaneously.
Hence, monitoring heart rate during mane pulling along with behavior is essential to ensure the horse’s well-being.
Besides, not only can equines feel their mane, but there are also certain problems associated with this organ. For example, a horse can lose its mane by physical trauma, fungal infections, poor grooming, etc. Hence, let’s dig into the subject to know more about it.
What causes a horse to lose its mane?
There are several reasons why an equine may lose its mane. Some of them are mentioned as follows;
- Poor grooming
Mane can break or get damaged if handled roughly during grooming or braiding. Over-combing or using a comb with too-wide teeth is also not good. In addition, using grooming products that are too harsh or drying can cause the mane to become brittle and break.
- Genetics
Another reason is genetics. Some breeds of horses, such as the Arabian breed, naturally have thin or short manes. Other horses may have a genetic predisposition to a condition called “mane rolling.” In that condition, the hair at the base of the mane breaks off easily. Thus, such equines quickly lose their furthest extremity.
- Fungal infections
One of the horse mane problems is its damage by fungal infections. They can cause hair loss in equines and are typically due to the fungi that grow on the skin, such as;
- dermatophytes
- yeasts
- molds
Moreover, the infected area may also be itchy. That can result in the horse rubbing or scratching excessively, harming the mane.
Treatment of a fungal infection on a horse’s mane typically involves antifungal medications. Those can be applied topically or given orally. The affected hair may need to be trimmed or shaved in severe cases. That allows for better treatment of the skin.
- Physical trauma
Physical trauma can cause a horse to lose its mane. For example, mane pulling is a common cause of mane loss due to physical trauma. Thus, it is essential to be careful when handling a horse’s furthest extremity. That helps avoid causing trauma and corroborates the fact that equines are aware of their mane.
However, you may need help caring for your horse’s mane properly. In that case, it is a good idea to consult a veterinarian or a professional groomer.
Additionally, several other factors can contribute to mane loss in equines. For instance, nutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of protein or biotin, can cause hair loss. Hormonal imbalances caused by medical conditions or certain medications are also a culprit.
Also, as horses age, their hair may become thin and brittle, resulting in mane loss. Finally, environmental factors, such as exposure to harsh weather conditions, can also cause equines to lose their mane.
Hence, a visit to the vet is significant to seek help and prevent the loss of the furthest extremity in your horse.
In summary, the mane is essential to the equine body. Therefore, misconceptions like why horses can’t feel their mane are no longer accepted. The evidence doesn’t support them either. Still, it doesn’t mean all equines are equally sensitive to sensations on their furthest extremity.
In addition, like other body parts, the furthest extremity also experiences various issues, such as breakage or damage. Yet, you can fix those problems with proper measures. Hence, be mindful and look after your animal’s mane instead of discarding it as an unimportant organ.
